Fire destroys Berkeley nonprofit, prompts evacuations at nearby apartments

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- An early morning fire in Berkeley destroyed a nonprofit's building and forced dozens of people from nearby apartment buildings.

The fire started around 3 a.m. at the East Bay Media Center on Addison Street, just a few blocks from UC Berkeley.

The fire destroyed the entire building but left the buildings on both sides untouched. However, dozens of students and families living in the apartments right next door were temporarily evacuated. But many told ABC7 their fire alarms never went off, and most woke up to the sound of police banging on their doors, telling them to leave.

The East Bay Media Center is a nonprofit that has conducted workshops and training in TV production for more than two decades.

According to their website, the nonprofit's teen media camp established in the late 1980s is the country's first media training program for teens, which focuses on marginalized youth and minorities.

They also created the Berkeley Video and Film Festival in the early 1990s, which is one of Northern California's largest independent video and film festivals. It's now in its 34th year.

There is no word yet on what may have caused the fire.

ABC7 has reached out to Berkeley Fire and the East Bay Media Center, but haven't received any updates.

Stay with ABC7 News for updates on this developing story.